Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-02-18
4 NEW ENGLAND Ia Wl'ER or
TIfE OLDEN TIME
Interesting "Reminiscences in the Life
and Labors of Jercminh Mason,

THE OLDEN TIME
Interesting "Reminiscences in the Life
and LRbOrs of jeremiah Mason,
Born and Educated In Connecticut Studied Law
in Vermont lie begins Practice in Cheshire
County, n H. Removes 90 Portsmouth, where
he Continues Practice aud Served with Distnc-
tion In the u. \. Senate Personal Sketches ut
Remarkable Men Stephen K. Bradley and Roy.
al Tyler Of Nermont-jo Dennie and Judge
West Of New Hampshire Gcurgc Washington,
Alexander, Hamilton, Burr. Fisher Amcs, aud
others He Removes to Boston, Where he Con
tinues his Law Practice, Contendug with Equal
Power with such Men as chief Justice Parsons
Judge Story and Daniel Webster.
The above briefly outlines the remarkable
career of a remarkable lawyer and man.
His son, Rev. Mr. Mason of Boston, prepar-
ed work entitled Life and Letters of
Jeremiah Mason but Hon. George W.
Nesmith of Franklin. n. II L.. informs MS that
but very few volumes are eNtant, and to
that gentleman we are indebted for cOpious
extracts in manuscript from the work.
Daniel Webster often expressed his admira
ton Of Mr.. Mason, both as IA lawyer aud II
yer should be- He distinguished himself
as student and in the very beginning of
his legal profession, avoiding the dissipation
that characterized the Cheshire county bar
his EARLY STUDENT LIFE.
When Jeremiah Mason was about II years
of age, he, in his own language, gives this
account Of himself was very back
ward for my age in all school learning.
read but poorly, and spelled worse. My
hand writing was bad and in arithmetic
knew very little. have always regretted
the loss Of time spent on the farn at
home. Had been placed at school six or
seven years earlier it would probably have
proved of great advantage 10 me. was
aware Of my deficiency, and went to study
ing with good resolution and diligence |
commenced the study of the Latin and
Greek languages in less than two years. In
less than two years was declared 10y Mas
ter Tsdale, my professor at Lebanon, Conn,
fitted for college entered Yale college in
the autumn of 1881 In Latin my cxamina
ton was confined to part of Virgil aud Il
part of Cicerus select urations ia Greek To
the evangelists of the new testament My
attainments, though slender, were superior
to those of n majority of my class. At
that time the instruction of each of the
three Junior classes in all branches was con
fined exclusively to its one tutor The
sophomores had two tutors, being the lnrg
est class. The president had the charge of
the senior class the duty of the professor
of divinity was confined to preaching ON
the Sabbath. The college was almost en-
tirely destitute of funds and unable 20 EN-
ploy competent professors The whole in
come from the endowments was no more
than sufficient to'pay the president and the
professor of Divinity. The tutors salaries
and other expenses Of the college were
drawn from the tuition of the scholars and
the rent Of rooms III the small college build
ing. President Stiles was then the popular
governor Of the college. He maintained a
had an uncomfortable time of It, We had
but one recitation day. Our prescribed
studies took up but small portion of our
time. unwisely spent a considerable por
ton of my time upon the elementary
books of the law.
At the commencement when | was grad
uated, in 1883, my exercise was d
forensic disputation upon the negative Of
the question, whether capital punishment
was in any case allowable or lawful.
stole most of my argument from Belaria
then little known was hattered an,
much gratifed by being told that my per
Torrance was the best of the day. In tn,
course of a long and active life recollec
no occasion when have experienced sucl
elevation Of feeling.
Soon after | graduated at college | en-
tered the law Office of Mr. Baldwin, Of New
Haven, who married the daughter of Roger
Sherman, remaining with him about a year
GOES To VERMONT STEPHEN u. BRADLEY.
then concluded to seek place in Yer
mont, and there found but few lawyers, bu
concluded to read with General Stephen Il
| Bradley. He had an extensive practice
but was not very learned in his profession
possessed great fund Of anecdotes, un'
much tact in using them un appropriate oc
casions He was member of Congress
from his state many years. Mr.. Masol
here observes that he heard Senator Gle
of Virginia say that of all the men he eve
knew, Gen'l Bradley possessed the most eX
traordinary powers in II deliberativc assem-
bly, to defeat any measure he assailed. Mr.
Bradley, while was student, gave me Tia
charge of his justice business and one hal
of the income to be derived from the same
He says | often studied my little cause
with much diligence, and this premature at
tempt to argue them helped me to gain con
fdence in myself, which was highly henet
cial to me, for was exceedingly dilldent
was admitted to the bar at Newfant
Windham county, Vt, in June, 1891, hu
finally concluded to practice in New Haml
shire.
GOES TO NEW HAMPSHIRE To PRACTICE.
applied to the bar in Cheshire county
and through the influence of Mr.. West
then at the head of the bar ] was there al
mitted and as the bar had treated IN
with much kindness, in return gave thel
supper, at which no small quantity {
wine and some wit were expended. | va
admitted to practice at the court of commo
pleas, when Judge Champney Of New lpt
witch presided. 1t so happened that Co
Moore, then of Westmoreland, who was Il,
ing a respectable legal business on the banh
of the Connecticut river, and who wishe
to close his business and remove TO Main,
proposed to sell his farm home and bushes
to me. accepted his proposition, payil
his price of SljOO, and commenced husme
there in September, 1891. Col Moore ha
been educated at Cambridge college, an
was of the class of 1872, at which time thu
institution was more distinguished for pr
ducing good fellows than good scholar
With much benevolence Of disposition
was very popular, but very dissipated. CO
Moore, after leaving Westnoreland, settl,
in Walpole and there became poor al
friendless and while on a journey in pu
suit of residence that might afford him
better living, he fell dead while walking
the highway in Andover, now Franki
This event occurred in 1902 or 1903
Mr.. Mason placed family in his hous
with whom he boarded, and applied hiI
self closely to his books and business.
saws, by reference to his old docket, he fin
that during the first year of his practice
commenced POP suits for the common pie
court for the second year, pa ; and f